Means for adjusting straightening rolls



Jan. 5, 1932. E. 1-. PETERSON 1,839,497

MEANS FOR ADJUSTING STRAIGHTENING ROLLS le V. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Jan 5, 1932.

E. T. PETERSON MEANS FOR ADJUSTING STRAIGHTENING ROLLS Filed Nov. 4,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NI-ENTOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD T. PETERSON, OFREADING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO BIBDSBORO STEEL FOUNDRY AND MACHINECOMPANY, OF BIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR ADJUSTING STRAIGHTENING ROLLS Application filed November 4,1926. Serial No. 146,090.

It has been found difiicult in practice to provide a satisfactorypractical means for axially adjusting heavy rolls, such as the rollsemployed in heat? machinery for straight/ening steel shapes variouskinds, such as rods,

' plates, angle plates, I-beams and the like.

a roll might havemay be eliminated. The

said invention also comprises an adjustable thrust bearing which isadapted to cooperate with the means forefi'ecting axial adjustment ofthe roll to which the means embodying my inventionis attached. I j v Thegeneral object of the invention is to provide means of the characterindicated which is simple in construction, which may be readilymanipulated, and which is eflicient for the purpose for which it isintended.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a novel construction ofmeans for efiecting axial adjustment of rolls, whereby any one of aplurality of rolls may be placed in proper relation with respect to theother rolls of the same series or an opposing cooperating series.

I have shown the invention as applied to the rolls of-a straighteningmachine comprising two sets of rolls arranged in planes which are insubstantial parallel relation to each other. 7 Each set'may include asmany rolls as may be desired or as may be found to be practical.

I have not undertaken at this time to point out all of the advantagesincident to the invention, because such other advantages as may beincident thereto will be ointed out in the detailed description thereowhich follows, or will become apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be readily understood ;and its manyfactors of practical advantage understood reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one form of aconvenient embodiment of the invention as applied to the heavy rolls ofa machine adapted for use in the straightening of steel shapes ofvarious kinds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical transverse section of a machine embodyingthe" invention, the rolls and certain other parts of the machine beingshown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a fragmentary portion of a machineembodying the invention, one roll in each set being shown in endelevation;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,and showing the means embodying my invention;

Fig. 4; is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.;and

Fig. 5 is a similarview taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 respectively designate as a whole theopposite sides of the frame of a straightening machine provided withbearings in which the journals 3 and 4 of the rotatable rolls 5' aremounted. The journals 3 terminate in head portions 6 which in effectform flanges projecting from the ends of thesaid journals, as is clearlyindicated in Figs. 1 and 3. of the drawings. The journals 3 are mountedin bearings 10 which are provided withlinings 11 upon their lower andupper sides, with which the said journals contact. Inward movement ofthe linings 11 with respect to the bearings 10 is limited by flanges 12which contact with shoulders at the outer ends of the bearings 10.

The bearings 10 are slidably mounted in openings within the frame 1, asis clearly indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

As the devices or means embodying my invention which are associated withthe respective rolls are all of the same construction the remainingportion of the description will be directed to a single one of thedevices and will be written in the singular number.

The opposite sides of the bearing 10 and of the lining 11 thereof extendupwardly upon opposite sides of the journal 3 to points about half wayaround the said journal. The bearing 10 is provided with an outwardlyprojecting portion which is substantially semi-circular in crosssection. The said extension extends upwardly and terminates at 16, asindicated in Fig. 1. The upper end portion of the said projection isshouldered, as indicated at 17. cover 18 is provided for cooperationwith the projection 15. The outer lower end of said cover is likewiseshouldered and is complementary to the upper end portion of theprojection 15, so that the two edges or ends fit together, as is clearlyshown in Fig. 1. The cover 18 is securely held to the part 15 by thebolts 19. The inner end or edge of the cover 18 is provided with adegpnding flange 20 to the outer side of which (t e term outer beingused with respect to the machine as a whole) a liner 21 is secured bymeans of screws 22. This liner is of half circular formation and fitsagainst the inner side of the upper half portion of the head 6 of thejournal 3. The lower half portion of the said head fits against theouter end of the lining 11 and the flange 12. It will be noted that theplane of the surface of Q the outer end of the bearing 11 and the flange12 is coincident with that of the outer plane of the semi-circular liner21, previously referred to.

The projection 15 is provided with a screwthreaded opening 25,'thecenter of which is in axial alinement with the roll to which the meansembodying my invention is attached. A member-27 is provided with anenlarged ex-' ternal screw-threaded end portion 28 which is inscrew-threaded engagement with the screw-threaded opening 25. Inwardadjustment of the member 27 is limited by a flange at 30 which isadapted to engage with the outer side of the upper portion of theprojection 15 adjacent the screw-threaded opening 25. The member 27 isprovided with an axial opening 31 therethrough, the inner end of whichis enlarged, as indicated at 33. The interior surface of the enlargedportion is screw-threaded. A cylindrical rod 35 is mounted within theopening 31 and is provided with an externally screw-threaded head 36upon its inner end. The 'threadsof the head are in engagement with thethreads of the enlarged opening 33 at the inner end of the axial opening31. Preferably the surface of the inner end of the head 36 is ofspherical shape and is seated within a correspondingly shaped recess ina bearingdisk 40 provided upon its inner side with a circular seat 41within which is mounted a circular flatbearing 42 which is seatedagainst the outer side of the head 6. Adjustment of the thrust rod 35with respect to the member 27 may be effected by rotating'the same, asquared end 45 being provided for that purpose. After having beenadjusted axially to such extent as may be desired the thrust rod 35 isadapted to be locked in position by the lock or binding -nut46. Thethrust rod 35 may be adjusted inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1of the drawings by rotating the same in the proper direction. Afterhaving been adjusted inwardlv, it may be thereafter adjusted outwardlyby rotating the same in the opposite direction.

The outwardly extending member 27 is externally screw-threaded, asshown, and extends through an opening 50 provided in a vertical web 51formed upon the outer end of a bracket 52 which is secured by means ofbolts 53 to the frame 1. In the construction as shown the opening50 isopen at its top side or end, so that the member 27 may be readily placedtherein and removed therefrom. If desired, a ring 54 may be mounted uponthe member 27 within the opening 50.

For the purpose of adjusting the member 27 axially I have providedadjusting nuts 56 and 57 which engage the external screwthreads upon thesaid member upon opposite sides of the vertical web 51. Assuming that itmight be necessary to adjust the member 27 outwardly together with thebearing 10 and the projection thereon, such adjustment might be effectedby first adjusting the.

nut .57 inwardly the desired distance and thereafter turning the nut 56to adjust the same in a like direction. The web 51 being stationary itis quite clear that the member 27 must move outwardly. Such outwardmovement causes a snnilar movement of the bearing 10 and outwardmovement of the latter causes corresponding axial movement of the roll5, due to the fact that the outer end of the lining 11 of the bearingcontacts with the inner side of the lower half portion of the head 6upon the outer end of the journal 3.

made, the nut 57 is then adjusted in a like manner. The said nut beingin contact with the inner side of the stationary web 51,'it is apparentthat the member 27 must move inwardly. Such inward movement of themember 27 causes alike inward movement of the bearing 10. A like inwardmovement of the roll 5 is also caused because of the contact of theinner end of the thrust rod 35 with the bearing member or block 40 whichis seated against the outer s'ideof the head 6 upon the journal 3.

' To those skilled in the art the necessity for adjustment of the rolls5 is well understood. When the strai htening rolls are used forstraightening I- eams, for instance, the said rolls are provided withgrooves to receive the flanges of such beams. One purpose, therefore, ofproviding straightening meansis to adjust the respective rolls of eachset so as to bring the grooves in the rolls those of the other in orderto bring the grooves into registry with each other.

It will be understood that in the use of machines of the characterindicated the rolls are subjected to very great pressure or strainsaxiallythereof. As a result, there is or is apt to be Wear such as topermit axial play which is objectionable. It is apparent that such playmay be eliminated by proper adjustment of the thrust rod 35.

The interposed bearing block 40, previously referred to, is supported inposition by means of the pins 59, the outer end portions of which aremounted in openings in the outwardly extending projection 15. The innerends thereof are reduced in size and engage openings in the said bearingmember 40. The journal 4 of each roll is mounted in bearings mounted inopenings 61 in the side frame 2 of the machine.

It will be seen that by my invention I have provided means whereby eachroll of a straightening or similar machine may be axially adjustedindependently of every other roll, and that the said adjusting meanscomprises means whereby wear upon the bearing port-ions due to axialthrust of the rolls may be taken up. In other words, axial play of therolls may be eliminated or prevented. It will also be seen that by themeans embodying my invention Iam enabled to effect axial adjustment ofthe rolls quickly and with a minimum of trouble and delay.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rollhaving journals, bearings within which the said journals are mounted,one of the said bearings being provided with means for eflectinginterlocking of the same with the journal mounted therein, said meansincludin a thrust member located in alinement wit the axis of said rolland adjustable upon its support in the direction of the said axis, asupport for said thrust member, said support being supported by the saidbearing, and means for adjusting said support to effect lengthwiseadjustments of said roll and bearing and simultaneous equal movements ofsaid thrust member in the same direction.

2. Means for efli'ecting axial adjustment of alinement with the saidroll, a member.

mounted in said opening and extending outwardly therefrom, a stationarybracket having an opening through which said member extends, adjustablebearing means interposed between the said member and the outer end ofthe adjacent journal of the said roll,

and means whereby the said member may be adjusted relatively to the saidstationary bracket to thereby efl'ect axial adjustment of the said roll.

3. Means for effecting axial adjustment of a roll of a straighteningmachine comprising a bearing for one of the journals of said roll, whichbearing is provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending projectionhaving an opening in axial alinement with the said roll, a membermounted in said opening and extending outwardly from said projection,the said member having an axial opening therethrough, the inner end ofwhich is enlarged and is screw-threaded, a bearing thrust rod mounted insaid axial opening, a

bearing block interposed between the inner end of the said thrust rod.and the outer end of the adjacent journal, the said bearing blockcontacting with the inner end of the said thrust rod, a stationarybracket having an opening through which the said member extends,adjusting nuts having screw-threaded engagement with externalscrew-threads upon the said member, one of the said adj usting nutsbeing located outside of the said bracket and the other being locatedinside thereof, whereby upon adjustment of the said nuts axialadjustment of the said member may be effected to cause axial adjustmentof the said roll. j

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rollhaving journals, bearings for the said journals, one of which bearingsis provided with an outwardly and upwardly extending projection having te' opening in alinement with the axis 0 said roll, and means forinterlocking the said bearing with the said journal to prevent relativeaxial movement between the two, which means comprises an axiallyadjustable thrust bearing.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rollhaving journals at its opposite ends, one of which terminates at itsouter end in a flanged head, bearings for the said journals, the bearingfor the journal having a flanged head bein provided with an outwardlyextending projection having an opening therein in alinement with thesaid roll, a lining for the said bearing, the

outer end of which is provided with an outwardly extending flange, theinner side of which is in engagement with the outer end of the saidbearing and the outer side of which is in engagement with the inner sideof the flange of the said head, a member mounted within the said openingand extending out wardly from the said projection, said member beingexternally screw-threaded, a stationary bracket having a web portionprovided with an opening through which the said member extends, and thesaid. member being provided with an axial opening extendingtherethrough, the inner end of which is enlarged and is screw-threaded,an axially adjustable thrust bearing rod mounted in said axlal opening,said rod havin a head located within the enlarged portion 0 the axialopen I ing through said member and havin screwthreaded engagementtherewith, a earing block interposed between the outer end of the headedjournal and the inner end of the said thrust rod, and means whereby thesaid outwardly extending member may be axially adjusted to effect axialadjustment thereof, togeflher with the said thrust rod and the said r06. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rollhaving journals, bearings for said journals, one of said bearings beingprovided with an outwardly and upwardly extending portion whichterminates above the axis of the said journal, the said portion havingan opening extending therethrough in alinement with the am's of the saidjournal, and means provided on the said outwardly and upwardly extendingportion for adj ustably interlocking the said bearings with the saidjournal, said means comprising a thrust bearing mounted in said opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereuntosigned my name this 29th day of October, A. D. 1926.

. EDWARD 'l. PETERSON.

